#Your object is to kill the level 10 &quot;boss monster&quot; in the dungeon.

+

# Your object is to kill the level 10 "boss monster" in the dungeon.

-

===[[Level|Gaining Levels]]===

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=== [[Alpha:Level|Gaining Levels]] ===

-

#You start at level 1, and will increase in level as you gain experience, which you get for killing monsters in the dungeon.

+

# You start at level 1, and will increase in level as you gain experience, which you get for killing monsters in the dungeon.

-

#Each time you gain a new level, your attack damage and hit points increase.

+

# Each time you gain a new level, your attack damage and hit points increase.

-

===Combat===

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=== Combat ===

-

#A combat exchange happens whenever the hero bumps into a monster.

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# A combat exchange happens whenever the hero bumps into a monster.

-

#The higher level combatant strikes first. If the hero and monster are same level, then the monster goes first.

+

# The higher level combatant strikes first. If the hero and monster are same level, then the monster goes first.

-

#The first attacker deals damage to the opponent equal to its attack power.

+

# The first attacker deals damage to the opponent equal to its attack power.

-

#The second attacker, if still alive, then deals damage to the opponent equal to its attack power.

+

# The second attacker, if still alive, then deals damage to the opponent equal to its attack power.

-

===Mana and Spells===

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=== Mana and Spells ===

-

#Mana is used for casting spells. You start with no spells, and must find the spell [[glyphs]] in the dungeon.

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# Mana is used for casting spells. You start with no spells, and must find the spell [[Alpha:Glyphs|glyphs]] in the dungeon. (Certain, later, [[Alpha:Classes|classes]] start the game with a specific glyph at their feet.)

-

#In order to learn a spell after you've found it, you must click it in the &quot;on ground&quot; slot, and it will appear in your spell slots.

+

# In order to learn a spell after you've found it, you must click it in the "on ground" slot, and it will appear in your spell slots.

-

#Casting a spell on a monster does NOT trigger a combat exchange.

+

# Casting a spell on a monster does NOT trigger a combat exchange.

-

#Glyphs that aren't very useful to you should be converted by dragging them into the teal-and-red conversion icon. This will give you a benefit depending upon your [[races|race]]. Humans get more attack power, for example.

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# Glyphs that aren't very useful to you should be converted by dragging them into the teal-and-red conversion icon. This will give you a benefit depending upon your [[races|race]]. Humans get more attack power, for example.

-

===Healing and Restoring Mana===

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=== Healing and Restoring Mana ===

-

#As you explore the dungeon, you will restore depleted hit points and mana. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. The unexplored dungeon is a scarce resource that heals you and restores your mana pool. Use it wisely.

+

# As you explore the dungeon, you will restore depleted hit points and mana. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. The unexplored dungeon is a scarce resource that heals you and restores your mana pool. Use it wisely.

-

#For every square of the dungeon you uncover, you recover 1 mana point, and health equal to your level.

+

# For every square of the dungeon you uncover, you recover 1 mana point, and health equal to your level.

-

#When you are poisoned, you will not gain health from exploring squares. Poison can be cured by drinking a health potion, casting a healing spell, or by gaining a level.

+

# When you are poisoned, you will not gain health from exploring squares. Poison can be cured by drinking a health potion, casting a healing spell, or by gaining a level.

-

#When you suffer from mana burn, you will not gain mana from exploring squares. Mana burn can be cured by drinking a mana potion, or by gaining a level.

+

# When you suffer from mana burn, you will not gain mana from exploring squares. Mana burn can be cured by drinking a mana potion, or by gaining a level.

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===Potions and Powerups===

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=== Potions and Powerups ===

-

#3 each of the following items: Health Powerup, Mana Powerup, Attack Powerup, Health Potion and Mana Potion. A Thief will cause 4 of each to be created.

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# 3 each of the following items: Health Powerup, Mana Powerup, Attack Powerup, Health Potion and Mana Potion. A Thief will cause 4 of each to be created.

#Every Health Powerup gives you 1 Max Health per Level. This scales as you level up, so don't hesitate when you see one -- pick it up! Dwarf's Glyph Conversion works in the same way.

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# Every Health Powerup gives you 1 Max Health per Level. This scales as you level up, so don't hesitate when you see one -- pick it up! Dwarf's Glyph Conversion works in the same way.

-

#Every Attack Powerup gives you 10% Damage bonus, which can be viewed by hovering your mouse cursor on your character's attack icon, left to your current damage. This, naturally, scales as you level up. Human's Glyph Conversion works in the same way.

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# Every Attack Powerup gives you 10% Damage bonus, which can be viewed by hovering your mouse cursor on your character's attack icon, left to your current damage. This, naturally, scales as you level up. Human's Glyph Conversion works in the same way.

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNt8vCYmksE A fresh start win video]. This player has nothing unlocked and wins a regular game as a Human Fighter. Unfortunately it doesn't feature any commentary and may be hard to follow for a new player.

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[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNt8vCYmksE A fresh start win video]. This player has nothing unlocked and wins a regular game as a Human Fighter. Unfortunately it doesn't feature any commentary and may be hard to follow for a new player.

== Basic Hints ==

== Basic Hints ==

-

#Always fight the highest [[level]] [[monsters|monster]] you can defeat. This requires doing some quick math to determine how the combat will play out before you engage and realize you're in over your head.

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# Always fight the highest [[Alpha:Level|level]] [[Alpha:Monsters|monster]] you can defeat. This requires doing some quick math to determine how the combat will play out before you engage and realize you're in over your head.

-

#Exploring the dungeon is the main way you will regain health and mana, but it is a limited resource.

+

# Exploring the dungeon is the main way you will regain health and mana, but it is a limited resource.

-

#Potions are very useful to immediately gain health and mana, but you may need many of them for the fight with the boss.

+

# Potions are very useful to immediately gain health and mana, but you may need many of them for the fight with the boss.

-

#Keep in mind that wounded monsters gradually heal as you explore the dungeon. You can't just smack a monster, run and heal, and repeat. However, the regeneration will sometimes benefit you more than him...

+

# Keep in mind that wounded monsters gradually heal as you explore the dungeon. You can't just smack a monster, run and heal, and repeat. However, the regeneration will sometimes benefit you more than him...

-

#Use your level ups for all they are worth, they cure bad status and return you to full HP / MP, so don't be afraid of being poisoned / manaburned by a monster you'll level up after killing

+

# Use your level ups for all they are worth, they cure bad status and return you to full HP / MP, so don't be afraid of being poisoned / manaburned by a monster you'll level up after killing

-

#The first-strike spell is useful for finishing a monster off. It gets no retaliation shot if you kill it.

+

# The first-strike spell is useful for finishing a monster off. It gets no retaliation shot if you kill it.

-

#The fireball spell is useful for softening monsters up before combat

+

# The fireball spell is useful for softening monsters up before combat

-

#Lose gracefully :) sometimes the random number generator creates an impossible situation such as a room with all exits blocked by level 3 and higher monsters and no means of defeating any of them. Retire and try again!

+

# Lose gracefully :) sometimes the random number generator creates an impossible situation such as a room with all exits blocked by level 3 and higher monsters and no means of defeating any of them. Retire and try again!

-

#When you realize you can't possibly beat the boss, make sure to grab the loot before you retire. Gold carries over between games, so you can at least finance the next expedition.

+

# When you realize you can't possibly beat the boss, make sure to grab the loot before you retire. Gold carries over between games, so you can at least finance the next expedition.

-

#The second "win" always seems the hardest. Before your first "win", enemies only have 80% of the normal HP and Attack, and you'll now have unlocked the first special monster, and will likely have trouble adapting to the new enemy's ability (poison, manaburn etc.) Just remember that the game (at the moment) is designed to ease you into the more complex mechanics.

+

# The second "win" always seems the hardest. Before your first "win", enemies only have 80% of the normal HP and Attack, and you'll now have unlocked the first special monster, and will likely have trouble adapting to the new enemy's ability (poison, manaburn etc.) Just remember that the game (at the moment) is designed to ease you into the more complex mechanics.

Gameplay Basics

Object of the Game

You start at level 1, and will increase in level as you gain experience, which you get for killing monsters in the dungeon.

Each time you gain a new level, your attack damage and hit points increase.

Combat

A combat exchange happens whenever the hero bumps into a monster.

The higher level combatant strikes first. If the hero and monster are same level, then the monster goes first.

The first attacker deals damage to the opponent equal to its attack power.

The second attacker, if still alive, then deals damage to the opponent equal to its attack power.

Mana and Spells

Mana is used for casting spells. You start with no spells, and must find the spell glyphs in the dungeon. (Certain, later, classes start the game with a specific glyph at their feet.)

In order to learn a spell after you've found it, you must click it in the "on ground" slot, and it will appear in your spell slots.

Casting a spell on a monster does NOT trigger a combat exchange.

Glyphs that aren't very useful to you should be converted by dragging them into the teal-and-red conversion icon. This will give you a benefit depending upon your race. Humans get more attack power, for example.

Healing and Restoring Mana

As you explore the dungeon, you will restore depleted hit points and mana. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. The unexplored dungeon is a scarce resource that heals you and restores your mana pool. Use it wisely.

For every square of the dungeon you uncover, you recover 1 mana point, and health equal to your level.

When you are poisoned, you will not gain health from exploring squares. Poison can be cured by drinking a health potion, casting a healing spell, or by gaining a level.

When you suffer from mana burn, you will not gain mana from exploring squares. Mana burn can be cured by drinking a mana potion, or by gaining a level.

Potions and Powerups

3 each of the following items: Health Powerup, Mana Powerup, Attack Powerup, Health Potion and Mana Potion. A Thief will cause 4 of each to be created.

Every Health Powerup gives you 1 Max Health per Level. This scales as you level up, so don't hesitate when you see one -- pick it up! Dwarf's Glyph Conversion works in the same way.

Every Attack Powerup gives you 10% Damage bonus, which can be viewed by hovering your mouse cursor on your character's attack icon, left to your current damage. This, naturally, scales as you level up. Human's Glyph Conversion works in the same way.

Playthrough Videos

A fresh start win video. This player has nothing unlocked and wins a regular game as a Human Fighter. Unfortunately it doesn't feature any commentary and may be hard to follow for a new player.

Basic Hints

Always fight the highest levelmonster you can defeat. This requires doing some quick math to determine how the combat will play out before you engage and realize you're in over your head.

Exploring the dungeon is the main way you will regain health and mana, but it is a limited resource.

Potions are very useful to immediately gain health and mana, but you may need many of them for the fight with the boss.

Keep in mind that wounded monsters gradually heal as you explore the dungeon. You can't just smack a monster, run and heal, and repeat. However, the regeneration will sometimes benefit you more than him...

Use your level ups for all they are worth, they cure bad status and return you to full HP / MP, so don't be afraid of being poisoned / manaburned by a monster you'll level up after killing

The first-strike spell is useful for finishing a monster off. It gets no retaliation shot if you kill it.

The fireball spell is useful for softening monsters up before combat

Lose gracefully :) sometimes the random number generator creates an impossible situation such as a room with all exits blocked by level 3 and higher monsters and no means of defeating any of them. Retire and try again!

When you realize you can't possibly beat the boss, make sure to grab the loot before you retire. Gold carries over between games, so you can at least finance the next expedition.

The second "win" always seems the hardest. Before your first "win", enemies only have 80% of the normal HP and Attack, and you'll now have unlocked the first special monster, and will likely have trouble adapting to the new enemy's ability (poison, manaburn etc.) Just remember that the game (at the moment) is designed to ease you into the more complex mechanics.